Reviews - CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

November 4, 2026 by Kumpee Teeravech - No Comments

LattePanda Mu Ultra Review – An Intel Core Ultra 7 256V AI Compute Module tested on Ubuntu 26.04

Today, I’m going to review the LattePanda Mu Ultra, a compact x86 compute module designed for on-device AI applications. It comes in two versions, powered by either an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V or a Core Ultra 7 256V processor. Both models feature 16 GB of high-speed LPDDR5X memory running at 8533 MT/s, with the higher-end model delivering up to 115 TOPS of combined AI computing power. In this review, I installed Ubuntu 26.04 and benchmarked the LattePanda Mu Ultra using various tools, including sbc-bench, Geekbench 7, and Geekbench AI. I also tested its CPU, GPU, and NPU performance with llama.cpp and YOLO26 to evaluate its capabilities for AI applications. Finally, I created a fun demo combining YOLO26, MediaPipe, and OpenCV to test real-time computer vision performance, including hand gesture-based image adjustments, using a USB webcam. LattePanda Mu Ultra unboxing The package was shipped from China and arrived in just […]

November 2, 2026November 2, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

TOOCAA NOVA Review – 20W laser engraver with AI camera, autofocus, and rotary module

TOOCAA NOVA is a desktop laser cutter and engraver that combines creative functions in a compact body. It comes with a translucent orange cover and an A4 work area of 297 × 210 mm, suitable for making signs, decorations, personalized gifts, and DIY projects. The reviewed model uses a 20W diode laser module for cutting and engraving, and supports materials such as wood, paper, leather, and coated aluminum. The machine’s highlight is its 5MP AI camera, which displays an image of the material inside the machine in the software, making it easier to align designs with the desired position. It also has an autofocus system that automatically adjusts focus distance and a material card-reading function that helps you select operating settings. It works with TOOCAA Studio to design, import images, and set up jobs including line engraving, fill engraving, and cutting, and connects to the machine via USB or Wi-Fi. […]

October 12, 2026October 12, 2026 by MB - 11 Comments

PlugMate and PlugClaw Review – Thumb-sized Android-based private computers with optional Ubuntu/OpenClaw support

We received two unusual little devices for review this month: the PlugMate and the PlugClaw, both built by TrustKernel, a security company better known for the trusted-execution tech inside other people’s phones than for consumer gadgets. Each is a complete, self-contained computer the size of a USB stick (its own processor, memory, and encrypted storage) that runs a private, hardened Android system called PlugOS. You plug one into your phone, tablet, or computer, and that host lends it a screen, a keyboard, and a network connection. Nothing of yours crosses over. The easiest way to picture it: it’s a little computer (or more accurately, the hardware of a small phone) that borrows your screen, mouse, keyboard, and other peripherals to interact with you. IT folks will be tempted to compare it to a virtual machine, and the analogy isn’t bad, except that nothing here is virtual. It’s real, separate silicon; […]

October 3, 2026October 3, 2026 by Kumpee Teeravech - 7 Comments

UUNA TEK iAuto review – A professional handwriting and drawing machine

Hello, today I am going to review the UUNA TEK iAuto, an automatic handwriting machine designed to reproduce physical handwriting using a real pen on real paper. It also supports wireless connectivity, spreadsheet-based mail merge, custom fonts, and font variation features that can make the writing look more natural. The machine can handle paper sizes up to A3 and supports pens with a diameter of up to 18 mm. The UUNA TEK iAuto works with the manufacturer’s free iAuto software, which is available for Windows on both x64 and Arm-based systems, as well as for macOS on Apple M1, M2, M3, and Intel-based Macs. Most of the following review focuses on the machine’s writing capabilities, including tests with text, SVG graphics, different writing speeds, various pens, and different paper types. Unboxing The parcel was shipped from China by land transportation and took around six days to arrive at my office […]

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Review of Elecrow ThinkNode M9 QWERTY terminal with MeshCore firmware

Last August, CNX Software covered the launch of the Elecrow ThinkNode M9, a standalone LoRa terminal running MeshCore firmware with a QWERTY keyboard, a color display, GPS, and a built-in 2,300mAh battery. Elecrow has now sent us two units (923 MHz version) for review, allowing us to test mesh communication right out of the box without relying on other nodes in the area. Besides being preloaded with MeshCore, what sets the M9 apart from the earlier ThinkNode M1 and M5 is that it is fully standalone. Users can type messages, read messages, and share location directly from the device itself, without pairing it to a smartphone over Bluetooth as with previous models. In this review, we will go through an unboxing before using MeshCore through field testing in a 3-node network mixing hardware from different brands to evaluate MeshCore firmware mesh capability. Unboxing and hardware overview The box contains ThinkNode […]

September 6, 2026September 6, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

ACEMAGIC Kron Mini K5 Review – Part 2: A $400 Intel Core 3 304 Wildcat Lake mini PC tested with Windows 11 Pro

ACEMAGIC Kron Mini K5 Intel Core 3 304 review windows 11

After checking out the hardware of the ACEMAGIC Kron Mini K5 with an unboxing and a teardown in the first part of the review, we’ve now had time to test the Intel Core 3 304 Wildcat Lake mini PC in more depth with Windows 11 Pro. So in this article, we’ll report our experience with the penta-core mini PC, testing features, running system and AI benchmarks, playing 4K and 8K YouTube videos on Firefox, measuring network throughput (2.5GbE and WiFi 6), evaluating thermal performance, and measuring fan noise and power consumption. Software overview and feature testing The System > About window confirms we have a 1.5 GHz (base frequency) Intel Core 3 304 computer paired with 12GB of RAM and 477GB of storage, running Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build 26200.9168. HWiNFO 64 provides additional details about the 15W Intel Core 3 304 penta-core (1P+4E) Wildcat Lake-U processor, the motherboard with […]

September 1, 2026September 2, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Makera Z1 Desktop CNC Review – Smart milling, 4-th axis module, and 5W laser engraving

makera z1 desktop cnc cyclone dust collector lite

The Makera Z1 Desktop CNC is a desktop CNC machine designed for milling and engraving work that requires precision. The fully enclosed machine features an aluminum structure, offers a 200 × 200 × 100 mm work volume, and is suitable for wood, plastic, acrylic, PCB boards, carbon fiber, as well as non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, brass, and copper. The standout feature of this model is its fairly complete set of assistive functions, including a quick tool change system for swapping milling bits, auto probing & leveling for detecting position and leveling the workpiece, the AeroDust system for blowing and managing chips/dust, and a built-in camera for monitoring operation. In addition, optional accessories such as a 4th-axis rotary module, a 5W laser head, a workholding kit, and a 3D probe can also be installed. This model relies on a linear rail system featuring Acme lead screws and NEMA 17 stepper […]

August 30, 2026August 30, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Radxa Linkr – A USB drive-sized IP KVM with USB-C, Ethernet, and WiFi support

Radxa Linkr is a compact, USB flash drive-sized IP KVM that connects to the target through HDMI and USB for video, keyboard, and mouse emulation. The user can control it over USB-C, Ethernet, or WiFi client/access point, even before the OS is booted. The device does not require any specific apps, since all you need is a web browser. The company also highlights support for Tailscale VPN, two-factor authentication, and AI agents such as OpenClaw and Hermes. Radxa Linkr specifications: SoC – Rockchip RV1106G3 CPU – Arm Cortex A7 @ 1.2GHz with an integrated RISC-V co-processor. NPU – 1 TOPS 4th-gen Rockchip NPU with hybrid quantization (int4, int8, int16) ISP – 3rd-gen 5MP high-performance ISP VPU – 3072×1728 (5MP) @ 30fps H.265/H.264 encoding, 16MP @ 60FPS JPEG snapshot System Memory – 256MB DDR3L on-chip memory Storage for OS and virtual media images Optional 16 GB eMMC flash MicroSD card slot Display Input – […]